US introduces special security checks for Nigerians
By Our Correspondent
Published: Thursday, 28 May 2009
Nigerians travelling on the Delta Airlines direct flight from Atlanta, United States to Lagos

Skip to next paragraph

Photo file
Minister of Aviation, Mr Babatunde Omotoba

will be required to undergo additional security checks from today.

Empowered Newswire reports that US authorities described it as a test of new biometric

fingerprinting rules for Nigerians on inbound and outbound flights.





MEND queries Niweigha’s death

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta on Thursday queried the killing of a

suspected militant leader, Mr. Ken Niweigha.

In an email to Punch, MEND’s spokesman, Jomo Gbomo, alleged that the Bayelsa State

Police Command summarily executed Niweigha at its headquarters in Yenagoa and thus

denied the fair opportunity to defend himself in court. Niweigha was the principal suspect in the killing of 12 police officers and a police commissioner in Odi community of Bayelsa State, which triggered the invasion of the town by the military in November 1999.





JTF commander accuses monarchs of backing militants

The Commander, Joint Task Force in the Niger Delta, Maj-Gen. Sarkin Yakin-Bello, has

accused traditional rulers in the region of encouraging militancy in their domains.

The commander, who spoke while conducting the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel

Uduaghan, and journalists round the scenes of the ongoing military campaign to flush out

militants in the state, said the monarch related closely with the armed gangs.





Ijaw women protest at National Assembly

Dozens of Ijaw women on Thursday marched to the National Assembly, in protest at the

continued bombardment of their communities.

They were, however, stopped by armed policemen from gaining access to the complex.

TSS: Oyo gov to pay teachers’ March salary

The Oyo State Governor, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, has promised that the March salary of teachers in the state‘s service will be paid.

The position of the governor, who featured on a live programme aired by the state-owned

radio and television stations on Wednesday night, was at variance with the threat by the

Secretary to the State Government, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo, that the teachers would not be paid for staying away from work to press for the Teachers‘ Salary Scale.





CNPP urges Ekiti gov to fix roads

The South-West chapter of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties has urged the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Segun Oni, to rehabilitate distressed roads in the state capital.

The appeal was contained in a communiqué by the conference’s Zonal Secretary-General,

Chief Gboyega Adeniji, at the end of its executive meeting in Ado-Ekiti, on Thursday.





Fayemi campaign insists Ekiti rerun was manipulated

The Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation on Thursday dismissed the figures reeled out by the state Governor, Mr. Segun Oni, to justify the votes declared for him by the Independent National Electoral Commission during the April 25, 2009 supplementary election in Ido/Osi Local Government.

In its reaction to the governor‘s press conference held on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti, the organisation said in an electronic mail by its Director of Communications, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu,that Oni was only trying to propound puerile theories to justify the alleged electoral heist, from which he recently benefited.





FG restates commitment to 6,000 megawatts target

The Federal Government on Thursday restated its pledge to meet the target of delivering

6,000 megawatts of electricity before the end of the year.

The Minister of State for Power, Mr. Nuhu Wya, who spoke during the introduction of Health and Safety Standards Manual to the electricity and power industry in Abuja, said that but for the challenge of gas supply, Nigeria already had the capacity for 5000MW. According to him, should the gas supply be available today, the electricity supply situation would change immediately and significantly.





Reps may summon foreign affairs minister

The House of Representatives may summon the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo

Maduekwe, to defend his claim that the National Assembly lacks the constitutional powers to investigate any minister.

In a resolution during its plenary on Thursday, the lawmakers directed the Committee on

Foreign Affairs to submit a detailed report on Maduekwe‘s utterances by next Tuesday.

Lawmakers, who contributed to the debate, criticised the minister‘s conduct, saying he had embarrassed Nigeria and President Umaru Yar‘Adua.

Maduekwe reportedly made the remarks during an appearance before the committee on

Tuesday in Abuja.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2009052818373562

I hope Nigerians aren't the only ones having to do this!?